Method and machine for playing disk-type phonograph records



June 5, 1951 w. A. LYNCH 2,555,895

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR PLAYING DISK-TYPE PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Filed 001. 21, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 5, 1951 w A LYNCH 2,555,895

METHOD AND'MA'CHINE FOR PLAYING DISK-TYPE PHONOGRAPH RECORDS BY Ma aliawneys June 5, 1951 w. A. LYNCH METHOD AND MACHINE FOR PLAYING DISK-TYPE PHONOGRAPH RECORDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 21, 1944 INVE TOR.

June 5, 1951 w A LYNCH 2,555,895

METHOD AND MAbHINE FOR PLAYING DISK-TYPE PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Filed Oct. 21, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 w a. INViNTOR.

Patented June 5, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND MACHINE FOR PLAYING DISK-TYPE PHONOGRAPH RECORDS William A. Lynch, Houma, La.., assignor to Paul F. Wilber, Binghamton, N. Y.

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a method and machine for playing disk-type phonograph records and more particularly to a method and machine which automatically plays a succession of such records on both faces thereof, the method and apparatus forming the subject of the invention being also adapted, however, for manual control and for manual elimination of the playing of any face of any record, if desired.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide such apparatus which does not require an increase in the size of the cabinet, as compared with a drop record player playing a succession of records from one side only, and in which the apparatus forming the subject of the invention does not interfere with the free loading, unloading or other operations.

Another important object of the invention is to provide such a method and apparatus which is extremely simple and rugged in construction and will stand up under conditions of severe and constant use Without getting out of order or requiring repairs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and direct means of effecting the necessary reversal in rotation of the record when played from its opposite sides, such means also serving to support the record when played from one side and to transfer the record to its position for playing on the other side.

Another aim of the invention is to provide such a mechanism and, apparatus for playing both sides of a succession of disk records which is adapted to a large number of different standard types of automatic record players, particularly of the type known as the drop record type.

Another object of the invention is to provide such apparatus which does not require substantial alteration of any of a number of standard types of drop record players in converting the same to a machine which will play the same records from both faces thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a method and machine which is gentle in its action and operates with the minimum wear upon the record as well as with the minimum likelihood of breaking or otherwise injuring the record.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide such apparatus which is extremely low in cost and permits the manufacture and sale of the drop record type of changer embodying the invention at substantially the same price as a similar machine which automatically plays the records from only one side thereof.

Further objects and advantages will appear iii 2 from the following description and drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the record changer embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken on line 4-4, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken on line 5-5, Fig. 1.

Figs. 6-11 are diagrammatic side elevational views illustrating the sequence of operation of the exposed parts of the record changer in playing both sides of a succession of records stacked on the record changer.

While the invention can be incorporated in record changers varying widely in construction and operation, the record changer shown in the drawings represents one type of record changer inwhich the operating parts are mounted on a supporting plate or bed In which can. be built into the cabinet of the record changer. A turntable II for receiving the records ['2 is shown as rotatably mounted on the supporting plate or i bed III, the turntable having an axial shaft I3 fixed thereto and extending through the bed or supporting plate In and suitably journaled therein for this purpose. The turntable is shown as being rotated in the proper clockwise direction to play the upper face of a record l2 thereon by an electric motor I4 which can drive the turnunderstood that each could be in the form of a jewel stylus forming a part of one or two pickups.

The opposite end of the tone arm is shown as mounted, by a horizontal pivot pin 20, on a pair of ears 2! projecting upwardly from a supporting post 22, this post being suitably journaled in a support 23 carried by the bed or supporting plate It. As best shown in Fig. 5, the lower end of this post 22 projects below the supporting plate Ill and has fixed thereto an arm 24 carrying a roller 25 at its end, this arm being moved to swing the tone arm out to permit of record changing and to move the tone arm horizontally to proper playing position as hereinafter described. To move the tone arm vertically in engaging it with or disengaging it from the proper record, a vertically sliding pin 25 is arranged in the post 22, the upper end of this vertically sliding pin engaging a bracket 28 provided within the tone arm I between its pivotal mounting 25 and its free end so that raising the pin 26 lifts the free end of the tone arm.

The tone arm I5 is controlled by a cam disk or gear wheel 33 which is rotatably mounted on the underside of the supporting plate or bed If). The periphery of this cam disk or gear wheel provided with gear teeth which are adapted to mesh with the teeth of a pinion 3| fast to the lower end of the turntable shaft l3. At diametrically opposite sides the gear wheel 3!) is mutilated or unprovided with teeth, asindicated at 32. When either stylus of the tone arm is brought to playing position, one of these toothless or mutilated segments of the gear wheel 33 is in register with the pinion 3| on the turntable shaft. Consequently during the playing of the record the gear wheel 30 is out of engagemeht with the pinion 3| on the rotating turntable shaft 3 and the gear wheel an remains stationary. When the stylus enters the central eccentric groove of the record means (not shown) are provided which effect engagement between the pinion 3| and the teeth of the gear wheel 35 in consequence of which this gear wheel is rotated one-half of a revolution until the pinion 3| encounters the opposite toothless or mutilated portion 32 of the gear wheel when the gear wheel is again brought to rest.

During the initial part of each such half revolution of the gear wheel 35, the salient part 33 of a face cam 34 on the cam wheel 33 comes into register with the vertically sliding pin 25 of the pickup arm, one arm 35 of a bell crank lever being interposed between the lower end of this sliding pin 25 and the face of the cam 34, as best shown in Fig. 5, for a purpose which will presently appear, This salient part 33 of the face cam 35 provides a neutral position for the tone arm so that when the tone arm pin 26 and the arm 35 of the bell crank lever 35 is in engagement with this salient part, both Styluses of the tone arm are out of engagement with a record. Thus upon completion of the playing of the upper face of the record [2 'on the turntable Ii the engagement of the corresponding salient part 33 of the face cam 34 with the bell crank lever 35 and sliding pin 26 operates to move this pin and the free end of the tone arm l5 upwardly out of engagement with the record and to a neutral position where it can be swung horizontally outward to an inoperative position.

To efiect such horizontally outward swing of the tone arm to an inoperative position, the cam disk or gear wheel 39] is provided on its upper face and on oposite sides of its axis with counterpart cam ridges 38, the cam faces of which face radially outward and are adapted to engage the roller 25 on the arm 24 fast to the tone arm post 22, as best shown in Fig. 5. As best shown in Fig. 3, the two counterpart earns 38 together are generally S-shaped and are formed so that, following the action of a salient portion 33 of the cam 34 in moving the tone arm vertically to a neutral position, the corresponding cam 38 engages the roller 25 to swing the arm 24, tone arm post 22 and tone arm l5, the movement of the tone arm being from the center of the record to a position beyond the outer edge of the record. At this extreme position the roller 25 is also engaged by the radially inward face of the face cam 34 which controls the elevation of the tone arm, the tone arm being thereby momentarily locked in its extreme outward inoperative position. Following this the roller 25 passes beyond the extremity of the cam 38 and the tone arm is free to be swung horizontally inward to initial record playing position by a po iti means (not shown).

The record player plays the opposite faces of a succession of records and to this end a stack of the records I2 is threaded on the upper extremity of the turntable post or shaft l3 and is supported in this inoperative position by a pair of record release or escapement devices, commonly called slicers, which are actuated to drop one record at a time from the bottom of the stack for playing; These escapement devices are arranged on diametrically opposite sides of the turntable H and each comprises a head til fast to a vertical shaft 4| carried by a post 42 supported by the plate or bed ID, the shafts lilj extending below this plate, as best shown in Fig. 3. Each head has a fixed horizontal blade 43 projecting outwardly therefrom in opposed relation to the op= posite escapement device and a flexible horizontal blade 44 which is arranged substantially one record thickness above the fixed blade 33 and in offset but overlapping relation thereto. The heads 4|] are oscillated in opposite directions to release a record, the stack of records being supported by the blades 43 and 44. In one extreme position thes'tack of records is supported by the fixed blade 43. As the heads 40 are rotated toward their opposite extreme positions the flexible blades 44 out between the lowest recordand the next succeeding record. Onthe continued movement of the head 40, the fixed blade passes from under the lowermost record and hence this lowermost record is free' to drop, the remainder of the stack of reeords being, however, supported on the flexible blades 44. On theretrog'rade oscillation of the heads E6, the now lowermost record supported by the flexible blades 44 is dropped onto the fixed blades '53 for repetition of the cycle. It will therefore be seen that each time the shafts 4| of the escapeinent devices are oscillated the lowermost record of the stack on the heads 43 is dropped toward the turntable II.

To effect such oscillationof the escapeme'nt or slicer shafts 4|, an arm 45 is fast to the lower end of each shaft 4| and these arms 45 are cross connected by a link '45. Near its center this link 46 carries a pin 48 which is arranged in a slot 49 provided in the bifurcated or forked end of a horizontally swinging lever 53. This lever is pivoted at 5| to a stationary plate 52 which is suitably fixed to the supporting plate or bed 15 and this plate is arranged under the turntable shaft I3 and the adjacent part of the cam disk or gear wheel 30. The pivotal mounting 5| for the lever 5|] is near its center and the opposite end of this lever 58 is provided with a roller which projects upwardly therefrom into a figure 8 cam groove 55 provided eccentrically on the under side of the cam disk or gear wheel 30. With the figure 8 form of cam groove as shown it will be seen that each time the cam disk or gear wheel 30 is rotated a complete revolution, the salient and receding portions of the cam groove 55 swing the arm 50 about its pivotal mounting 5| thereby to reciprocate the link 46 longitudinally. This movement of the link 45 is transmitted through the levers 45 ahd shafts 4| to oscillate the escapeinent heads '40 in unison and thereby drop the lowermost record from the stack' supported by the blades of these escapement heads, as previously described.

The feature of the invention resides in a novel means for receiving, rotating, playing and releasing a record dropped from the escapement device, particularly, but not necessarily, to permit of playing of both sides of a succession of records. These novel means are constructed as follows:

Three wheels Bil are provided, these wheels having tires of soft material, such as rubber, so as to be capable of engaging the faces of the records l2 without injury to the recordings thereon. Each of these wheels is mounted for free rotation on a horizontal axis on the end of a horizontal arm BI at the upper end of a sliding post 62 which is slidingly journaled in a bearing 63 carried by the supporting bed or plate Hi. It will be seen from Fig. 4 that each post t2 extends through its bearing 63 and that this bearing permits its wheel 50 to be raised and lowered from one dotted line position to the full line position shown and also permits the post to be swung from the full to the second dotted line position shown in this figure. The three posts {52 are arranged adjacent the rim of the turntable H at three points around this rim so that the wheels 66 can be swung to a position in which their axes intersect each other at the axis of rotation of the turntable so as to be capable of supporting and rotating a record on the turntable post 53 when dropped by the slicers or escapement devices 40.

To rotate the posts 62 so as to move the wheels 60 from their operative position in which their axes intersect one another to their inoperative position wholly outside of the field of the records dropped by the slicers or escapement devices it, the lower extremity of each of the posts 3? is slidingly journaled in a bearing bracket 55 carried by the supporting plate or bed iii and above these bearing brackets two of the sliding posts 52 are provided with fixed arms 65 and the third sliding post is provided with a fixed arm 65a, this latter arm 65a being in the form of a segment. So that all of the posts 62 are rotated to and from their operative positions in unison, onearm 65 is connected to one corner of the segmental arm 65a by a link 66 and the other arm 55 is connected to the other corner of the segmental arm 65a by a link 6?. These links 56 and '6'! are shaped so as not to interfere with any of the other mechanism in their operation.

The wheels 68 are moved horizontally into operative position to receive a record dropped by the slicers or escapements 4B and the swinging of the posts 62 is in step with the movement of the slicers. This movement of all of the posts 62 is shown as effected by the simple expedient of connecting the arm 65a of one of the posts 52 with the arm 45 of one of the slicer or escapement shafts ll by a simple link 6%.

The posts 62 for the wheels 6% are also moved vertically, the purpose of this being to elevate the wheels 58 to receive a record from the slicers or escapements 40; to lower this record into engagement with the upwardly extending stylus Mia and at the same time to engage the wheels 56 with the turntable i l or the top record l2 thereon and thereby secure a reverse rotation of the record supported on the wheels 60; and to raise the record from engagement with the stylus ltd and the wheels from driving engagement with the turntable I I or the top record thereon so that the wheels fill-can be swung out to drop the record 6. onto the turntable H for playing its upperface by the stylus l6. To effect this raising and lowering of the posts 62, means are provided which are preferably constructed as follows:

The numeral 69 represents a triangular plate which is supported by a vertical pivot Ill secured to the underside of the stationary plate 52 and three rods H are pivotally secured to the three corners of this triangular plate 65, the other end of each of these rods being guided in an ear 12 depending from a corresponding bearing bracket 34, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, this rod being thereby arranged adjacent the corresponding post 62. A collar 13 surrounds each post 62 and bears against the underside of its arm 65, this collar being loose so as not to interfere with the swinging of the post. A collar 14 is fast to each rod H and a link 15 connects each collar 14 with the corresponding collar 13.- It will therefore be seen that when the triangular plate 69 is rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3, the three rods Tl are moved longitudi-' nally outward, this movement, through the links [5, raising the posts 62 from the dotted to the full line position shown in Fig. 4. Reverse rotation of the triangular plate 69, of course, effects a lowering of the posts 62 to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4.

To effect this oscillation of the triangular plate 69 in proper sequence, the cam disk or gear Wheel 30 is provided on its under side with a cam 80, the effective salient and receding faces BI and 82 of which face radially outward. These salient and receding faces BI and 82 are engaged by a roller 83 extending upwardly from one arm 84 of a bell crank lever 85, this bell crank lever being secured at its center by a pivot 86 to the under side of the stationary plate 52. The other arm 88 of the bell crank lever is connected to one corner of the triangular plate 69 by a link 89. It will be seen that the oscillation of the bell crank lever 85 by the salient and receding faces 8| and 82 of the cam so is: transmitted by the link 89 to effect a corresponding oscillation of the triangular plate 69 thereby to effect the raising and lowering of the wheels 60 as previously described.

The record player is adapted to play the underside of the record rotatably supported on the wheels 60. To do this it is necessary to bias the tone arm l5 upwardly to engage the stylus I611. For this purpose the arm 98 of the bell crank lever 36 is shown as connected by a spring HI and wire 92 to one extremity of the link 46 connecting the two slicer or esoapement members 40. After dropping a record from the bottom of the stack on the escapement or slicers 40, the continued movement of the escapement mechanism, through the wire 92, tenses the spring 9| to raise and bias the horizontal arm 35, and hence the pin 25 and tone arm l5, upwardly. At this time the tone arm stylus 16a is positioned at the starting groove of the record and as the cam effects the lowering of the wheels 60 to engage the turntable II, or uppermost record thereon, the record on the wheels 8b is brought into engagement with the stylus Mia and moves the tone arm downwardly against the resistance of the spring 9| to prouide the necessary stylus pressure to properly play the underside of the record supported on the wheels 60.

Operation Referring more particularly to the diagrammatic' views, Figs. 6- 11, which illustrate the sequence of op rations of h retard P aY i 6 the apparatus is in st rti os t n with the Wheels 6 1 raised and wung t a resitien l-i of h r r z ne a d with he iq arm held with each us verti a aliueuien it the startin oo es of e rseerd '2 a tee of which i s own a v ng been thr ad d 9 th turntable haf l3 an QPPQ EQ y in? blades 43 and 44 f he t o sitte er e es e t heads 40.. N record i shown 9.1. the turntable l alth h t pr sen of a s k o reee l ontheurntab e I i wo l not a ee the erat ipn xcept that th Whe l 59 wou d be dr en iron the t pmost record I? o th st ck i s eedsf from the turn ab e d rectl and th re 9 the heels 60 would, of cour e be la ed a a hi her el va on- A h s e he 19.11. 0.1 ,3" & the turntable shaft i i n a ement with the teethof theea disk o sea whe 9 and heme therota on of th tu nt ble b its m ter L mme ia ly starts the ro ation o the-ear d sk o sear wheel 3.0. V

The cams n t s am dis o sea Whe l :39 move the p rt towa d t os o h wn mi hus, the roller a t e e d o the-. e sedatm 0 is move o the sali nt po tion of t e ure 8 bamgropve ,55, thus swinging this fork ed lcver counterclockwise about its pivot pin 5], as viewed in Fig. a rec proca n t elink 46 o he ri t. Thi rotat s t tim 4.5 o th cscapcment or slicer shafts 4i clockwise and pushes the rod 6 6 to the rig-ht, This rotates the segment a counterclockwise to effect a corresponding rotation of the sliding post 62 to which it is attached, and through the link 68 rotates one arm 65 and itspost 62 counterclockwise and through the'link 66 i'Qtates the other arm '65 and its post 62 clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3. Referring to Fig. 1, this rotation of the several posts swings the arms 5| at the .upper ends of the posts 62 so that their axes intersect one another at the axis .of the. turntable shaft i3. and the wheels are positioned as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and beneath the stackv of records I2 on the cscapements -.or slicers :40, as shown in Fig. 7.

While this inward movementof the arms GE and wheels 60 is progressing, .thevclockwise movement of-the arms 35 connected by the link 36,245: viewed in Fig. 3, efiects a'corre'sponding movement of the escapcment or slicer shafts 4 i thereby to rotate the escapcment heads 40 counterclockwise, as viewed in the plan view,- Fig. 1. This rotates these heads 40 so as to bring their flexible blades 44 -'bctwcen the lowermost andncxthigher record i2 of the stack and whcntheheadsil) rotate far enough, their blades 43 pass from 'undcr the lowermost record and permit it-to drop, the balance of the stack being supported by the flexible blades 44. Since at this time the wheels-till have been brought to the position shown in FigHZ, as just described, the lowermost record so released falls upon these wheels '60.

The extreme movement of the linkflfi (Figg3) to the right, in so swinging the wheclslill to their op t po t ons an in actuating the es a ment or slicer heads 49' toso release the lowermost record of the staclr puts tensionon thc wire 92 a s r 9L Th siin urnleias sthe p e or horizontal arm 135 .(Fig. 5) of the bcll cr'ank lever 36 upwardly, thereby to move and yieldingly supports the pin ZSandtone arm IE to its elevated position shown in Fig. 7. It will be noted from .Fig. 5, lio .rcver, tha;t wl ilctbe tone -a rrn l5 is e upwardl th t n ter i -sre it be gear wheel so brings the rol er 83 at'tlie aid of arm $4 or s v n crank eve 'inte pa e eat w th t e 'eeed el rer ie'n' l e t adially facing earn 30. Tlii permits this bell crank lever 85 to oscillate clockw se, as viewed in Fig. 31 about its pivot 8 thereby, through the link 89, rbtating the triangular plate fi'9cloclrwi slf' Thisrlr- Initted clockwisc rotation ofthfe triangular plats e9 erm ts' he ed t9 'meveir ii 13. fcrring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the inward movcment of each rod 1 co the right) through the angular linl; l5; pcrrnits the col lafn tans/er and. since each sliding post 6i issuppOrtd by its collar 13, each of the seslidin g posts 62 and t whe srrieeih eb a 'ei fi t id e The first result of this lowering rndvcmnt of the wheels 69 is to efiect engagrrintbtwcn.

the stylus its, and the starting groove onus underside of the record i2 supported on the wheels 60, this stylus being in proper rcgisterwit'h this startinggroove as previously" described. 'Tl'ie continued downward movement of thewl cels' 60 operates to move the tone arm'i5 downwardly against the resistance of the spring 9| which biases it upwardly as previously described. This serves to provide the desiredstylus pressurcin playing the underside of the record" on the wheels 60. The final downward movement of the vvhccls 65 brings them into engagement with tliclturntable ll, as shown in Fig. 8 (or with the uppermost of a pile of records supported thereon) to be wholly supported thereby. This turntable is, of course, rotating clockwise andefiects a ci n'ric s ponding rotation of the three wheels 60. These wheels thereby become motion reversing devices, the record l2 supported by theselwhcelsbeingrotate'd in the reverse direction to the turntable] l and at the same rate of speed except for whecl slippage and the added load onthemotor 1,4; The record 12 supported by the wheels 6!) is th ereforc rotated in the proper direction for playing its underside bythe stylus 1611, the rubber tires on these wheels providing the necessaryirictionifor driving these wheels from the turntable II' or the uppermost record supported thereon and for driving the record l2 supported by these wheels 60. When this playing position of the parts is reached, the pinion 3| on the turntable shaft 13 encounters the mutilated or toothless part 32 .of the gear wheel so and hence this'canildisk of gear wheel remains stationary while the stylus Ilia traverses the groove of the record and moves the tone arm i5 towardthe center thereof. When the stylus [6a reaches th central ccccntric groove provided on the under sidc of the resend 12 s pp ted Q t t n r h ls the gear 3| fast to the turntable shaft l3 isssus sa to rccngage the teeth of the cam disk or gear wheel Bothercby to rotate it a half revolution until the opposite mutilated or toothless part 32 of this gear .wbcel is reached and thepinion 3] again rotates idly while a record plays.

The firsteffect of this half rotation of the cam disk 30 is to-causcthc ro1ler 83 of the bell crank lever 85 .to ridc-up onthe salient part 8i of the rad a e n am .Tn s r a s t be crank lever 85. counterclockwise about its. pivot 86, as viewed in Fig.; 3, and,;through the link .89, ec s a simi rota o th r an u ar p ate labeut its riv t-. 0- ,iih s euu ere kwise rotas tion of the triangular plate 69 pushes out each of the three rods II axially. As best shown in Fig. 4, this outward or to the left axial movement of each rod II, through the link 15, pushes upwardly on the loose collar 13 thereby to raise the arm 65 and the sliding post 62 to which this arm is fast. The upward movement of each of the sliding posts 62 raises the wheels 60 carried thereby and disengages these wheels from the top of the turntable I I so that these wheels 60 and the record I2 supported thereon stop rotating. The continued upward movement of the sliding posts 62 lifts the record l2 on its wheels 60 above the highest point to which the stylus I6a can follow, this stylus and its tone arm still being biased upwardly by the spring 91. This position of the parts is illustrated in Fig. 9.

The rotation of the cam disk or gear wheel 33 also brings the receding portion of the figure 8 cam groove 55 into engagement with the roller at the end of the forked lever 50, this rotating this forked lever 50 clockwise about its pivot as viewed in Fig. 3, and shifting the link 46 to the left.

The first effect of this retrograde movement of this link 46 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 3, is to relieve the tension on the wire 92 and spring SI, this releasing the bell crank lever 36 so that its horizontal arm 35 drops into engagement with the salient part 33 of the face cam 34 which at this time has been moved into axial alinement with the pin 26 which supports the tone arm I5. The tone arm is supported by this salient portion of the face cam 34 in a neutral vertical position in which position it can be swung outwardly to a position outside of the record zone. This is done by the corresponding cam 38 engaging the roller 25 at the end of the lever '24 fast to the post 22. This cam 38 swings the arm 24 outwardly or clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 3, and hence swings the tone arm I5 counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 1, to the full line position there shown.

The second effect of this retrograde movement of the link 46 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 3, is to effect a retrograde movement of the blades 43 and 44 of the two escapement or slicer heads 40 in preparation for again dropping the lowermost record from the stack supported thereon.

The third effect of this retrograde movement of the link 46 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 3, is to draw upon the link 66 thereby to rotate the segment shaped arm 65a clockwise. Through the links 66 and 68 this rotates the companion arms 65, and the sliding posts 62 to which these arms 65, 65a are fast, in the direction to swing their horizontal arms 6| and the wheels 60 carried thereby outwardly from the dotted to the full line position shown in Fig. 1. As the wheels 60 move out of axial alinement with the turn-1 table shaft I3, the opposing portions of their periphery present a widening funnel shaped support for the edge of the record I2 carried by the wheels 63. As this funnel shaped support widens through the spreading of the wheels 60 the record is gently lowered until it reaches alinement with the axes of the wheels when it .drops from the opposing edges of the wheels 60 onto the turntable II, as shown in Fig. 10.

The tone arm I5 is then swung inwardly to position its stylus I6 above the starting groove on the upper face of the record following which a receding portion of the face cam 34 comes into axial alinement with the pin 26 (Fig. 5). This permits the arm 35, pin 26 and tone arm I5 to lower and rest upon the upper face of the record on the turntable I I, as shown in Fig. 11, the stylus I6 entering the starting groove thereof. When this occurs the corresponding mutilated or toothless portion 32 of the cam disk or gear wheel 30 reaches the gear 3I on the turntable shaft I3 so that the cam disk or gear wheel 30 stops while the record is being played.

When the stylus I6 reaches the central eccentrio groove of the record on the turntable the means (not shown) are actuated to reengage the pinion 3| on the turntable shaft with the teeth of the cam disk or gear wheel 30 thereby to start the rotation of this cam disk. The initial rotation of the cam disk brings its corresponding cam 38 into engagement with the roller 25 to swing the arm 24, post 22, pin and tone arm I5 outwardly so that the tone arm is again brought to a position outside of the record zone. The tone arm I 5 is then moved horizontally into alinement with the starting grooves of the records I2, this being the starting position assumed in this description and shown in Fig. 6.

This cycle of operations is then repeated, the stacked records on the slicers or escapements 46 being played successively each first on its under face and then on its upper face until the entire stack has been played. The slicer or escapement heads 4!] are then manually'swung to one side in a manner well known in the art and the played stack removed from the turntable and a fresh stack placed upon the escapement heads.

It will be noted that as the records pile up on the turntable II the records are played at progressively higher elevations. However, the upward biasing of the spring 3! insures proper engagement of the stylus [6a with the under-- side of the records on the wheels 66 at all ele-'- vations and since the stylus I6 is engaged with the upper face of the records on the turntable I I by merely lowering the tone arm no operating difliculty is encountered because of this condition. I I

' It will be seen that the rollers 60 which engage the under faces of the records have a number of important functions. They serve as a substitute for a turntable and could be used as such in any type of record player. They also serve as a rotatable support for the record which. enables the playing of the undersldes of the records. They also serve as a means for receiving the records from an overhead stack and supporting the records in an intermediate position in which they can be played. They also serve as a motion transmitting means, particularly to secure a reversal in the rotation of the record supported thereon by the simple expedient of engaging the wheels with a turntable arranged thereunder or with the uppermost record supported thereon. The wheels 68 also serve as a means for lowering a record into engagement with an upstanding stylus. The wheels also serve as a gentle record stacking means, the outward swing of the wheels providing an enlarging funnel shaped support for the record carried by the wheels which gradually lowers the supported record until the wheels clear' record, and to start and stop its rotation in thedesired sequence. The wheels also act as a speed regulator inasmuch as the rotation of the, record supported by the wheels is proportionate .to the, Further, the wheels. Ell

speed of the turntable. act as automatic positioning means whichoperate .to automatically position the record thereon.

' faces.

at the properplaying elevation re ardless of the numberof records stacked upon the turntabl Itwill be seen'that with the invention very little'has to be added. to a: one face record player to. convert. it to a record player which plays both Further, no increase in the size of the cabinet or decrease in the number of records which, can be played results from such conversion, 'It will further be seen that the record player is simple and rugged in construction, is not likely to get out of order and accomplishes the objectives previously set forth at very little cost. y

I claim as my invention:

'1. In a disk, record player, the combination of a'plurality of wheels adapted to support and rotate a, record in a non-vertical plane, means supportin Said wheels with their axes directed toward theaaxisof rotation of said record, a turntablearranged below said record generally concentric'therewithand having its upper face ongageable with the peripheries oi said wheels to rotate the same, means for rotating said turntable, means for withdrawing said wheels hori zontally' from said axis to transfer the record from said wheels to said turntable, and pickup means for playing one side of said record while supported on said wheels and the other side of said recordwhile supported on said turntable.

2. In a disk record player, the combination of a plurality of wheels adapted to support and rotate a record in a non-vertical plane, a rotating drive member for at least one of said wheels, means for raising said wheels as a group to an elevated receiving station, and lowering said wheels vertically as a group to a lower playing station, means for placing a record on said wheels at said elevated receiving station, and a pickup arranged under said placed record and engageable with the under face of said placed record in the lowered position of said wheels at said playing station.

3. In a disk record player, the combination of a plurality of wheels adapted to engage one face of and to support and rotate a record in a nonvertical plane, a rotating drive member arranged in a vertically spaced relation to one of said wheels and adapted to have surface engagement with the periphery of said one of said wheels, a pickup movable into engagement with said one face of said record supported on said wheels, and means actuated in timed relation to the movement of said pickup for raising and lower ing vertically all of said wheels as a group to effect engagement and disengagement between said one of said wheels and said rotating memher.

4. Ina disk record player, the combination of a plurality of wheels adapted to engage one face of and to support and rotate a record in a nonvertical plane, a rotating drive member arranged in vertically spaced relation to one of said whee and adapted to have surface engagement with the periphery of said one of said wheels, a pickup movable into engagement with said one face of said record supported on said wheels immediately preceding the engagement between said one of said wheels and said rotating member, and means actuated in timed relation to the movement of said pickup for raising and lowering vertically all of said wheels as a group to efiect engagement and disengagement between said one of said wheels and said rotating member.

5. 'In a disk record player, the combination of a plurality of wheels adapted .to support and rotate-a1 record. in "a non-vertical plane, a rotate ing drive member for at least one of said wheels, a pickup adapted to be arranged at one face of said re'cordwhile supported on said wheels and engageable with said one face of said record, a vertically sliding post supporting each' of said wheels, means interconnecting said posts to raise and lower them in unison, and cam means actuating said interconnecting means to raise and lower all of said wheels vertically as a group.

6. In a disk record player, the combination of a plurality of wheels adapted to support and roe tate a record in a non-vertical plane, a rotating drive member for at least one of said wheels, a vertically sliding post supporting each of said wheels, a plate mounted to rotate about a vertical axis, horizontal rods 'pivotally connected at spaced intervals to the edges of said plate and each having its outer end arran ed adjacent a corresponding one of said posts, a link pivotally connecting each rod and the correspondin post and arranged at an angle to both whereby the horizontal movement of said rods effects a verti cal longitudinal movement of said posts, and means for oscillating said plate about its axis to move said rods lon itudina ly utw y nd wardly as a group.

7.. In a'disk record player, th c m inat f a plurality of wheels adapted to support and roa e. a record in a non-vertic l p ane, means supporting said wheels with their x irec ed t ward the axis of rotation of said record, a support arran d to support a stack or records t be'pla'yed over said wheels, an escapernent arranged successively to release the lowermost record of said stack to place said lowermost record on said wheels, a rotating drive member for rotating at least one of said wheels about its axis, and means swinging at least one of said wheels about a vertical axis disposed outside of said released record to disengage said released record fr said wheels r 8. In a. disk r c d p ay t e c mbi ati n of an esoapement supp r n a st f generall horizontal record and d p d to el a e t lowermost record of the stack and permit it to fall, means arranged to actuate said escapement', a p u ity o wheels a ran d below'sai s a k oirecords and adapted to support and rotate said released record in a non-vertical plane, means supporting said wheels with their axes directed toward the axis of rotation of said re leased r cord, a r tat driv me f ot-etnsa leas one f d wheels b ut its ax s, means synchronized with said escapement for swinging at least one of said wheels about a vertical axis disposed outside of said released record to sai rec d ppo t position nd o a position outside of said released record to cause said'roleas d rec d o be ugh a d upport d by s aid wheels and subsequently dropped therefrom, and a pickup engageable with the record so supported by said wheels.

*9. In -a disk record player, the combination of a rotating turntable, a plurality of wheels adapted to support and rotate a record ma nonvertical plane above and generally concentric: with said ,turntable, means supporting said wheels with their axes directed toward the axis. of rotation of said record, a support arranged to support a stack of records to be played over said wheels, an escapement arranged successive 1y to release the lowermost record of said stack to place said lowermost record on said Wheels. means: for rotating l ast isa d wheels about its axis, means for swinging said wheels in unison, each about a vertical axis disposed outside of said record, to disengage said released record from said wheels and to permit it to fall, without inversion, onto said turntable, and pickup means for playing the underside of the released record while supported on said wheels and the upper side of the same record while supported on said turntable.

10. In a disk record player, the combination of a rotating turntable, a plurality of wheels adapted to support and rotate a record in a nonvertical plane above and generally concentric with said turntable, means supporting said wheels with their axes directed toward the axis of rotation of said record, means for lowering said wheels as a group to engage the efiective upper surface of the said turntable and thereby rotate said supported record in a reverse direction to said turntable, means for subsequently raising said wheels as a group to break the driving connection of said wheels with said turntable, means for swinging said raised wheels in unison each about a vertical axis disposed outside of said record to disengage said record from said wheels and to permit it to fall, without inversion, onto said turntable, and pickup means for playing the underside of the record while supported on said wheels and rotated in one direction and the upper side of the same record while supported on said turntable and rotating in the opposite direction.

11. In a disk record player, the combination of an escapement supporting a stack of generally horizontal records and adapted to release the lowermost record of the stack and permit it to fall, a turntable arranged below and in alinement with the records of said stack, means arranged to actuate said escapement, a plurality of wheels arranged below said stack of records and adapted to support and rotate said released record in a non-vertical plane, means supporting said wheels with their axes directed toward the axis of rotation of said record, means syni4 chronized with said escapement for swinging said Wheels each about a vertical axis disposed outside of said record to said record supporting position, means for subsequently lowering said wheels as a group to engage the effective upper surface of the turntable and thereby rotate said supported record in a reverse direction relative to said turntable, means for subsequently raising said wheels as a group to break the driving connection of said wheels with said turntable, means for swinging said raised wheels in unison about said vertical axes to a position outside of said record to cause the record to be disengaged from said wheels and to fall, without inversion, onto said turntable, and pickup means for playing the underside of the record while supported on said wheels and rotating in one direction and the upper side of the same record while supported on said turntable and rotating in the opposite direction.

WILLIAM A. LYNCH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS- Number Name Date 1,547,768 Little July 28, 1925 1,838,101 Mallina Dec. 29, 1931 1,886,228 Roberts Nov. 1, 1932 2,043,789 Ansley June 9, 1936 2,515,283 Wissner July 18, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 111,950 Sweden Sept. 26, 1944 450,692 Belgium Feb. 15, 1944 598,584 Germany June 15, 1934 541,156 Great Britain Nov. 14:, 1941 611,618 France July 12, 1926 711,219 France June 23;, 1931 822,026 France Dec, 18, 1937 

